At the ripe old age of 34 my life started over. I'm passionate about cooking and trying new dishes. I dabble in scrapbooking and home decorating, and I have an impressive shoe collection. I love to travel to new places, but Honduras is my favorite. After trying to get and stay pregnant for almost 2 years, we are expecting our first baby May 9th, 5 days after my 38th birthday.



Chris is the most amazing man I've ever known. After "meeting" on match.com, we had our first date December 12, 2007. We were engaged by July and married on October 11, 2008. I would be lost without him. I never knew life could be this good!



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Thursday, March 31, 2011

The End is in Sight!



*****There may be some typos in here. For some reason blogger wants to run all my paragraphs together so I was afraid to click on Compose and use spell check. *****

Thank you everyone for the sweet comments about my puppy dog. I miss her so much, but I'm doing better. I work from home and some days I feel sad that I'm truly here by myself. She always seemed to bark at inconvenient times, but now I wish she was here to bark at me.

Just 5 weeks left! No later than 5 weeks from this past Monday (sorry, I'm late getting this up and I don't have a pic to go with it) I will no longer be pregnant and the dream that I worked so hard for will be here and in my arms. Honestly it still doesn't seem real. At my shower on Saturday, someone asked me "when are you due" and I thought she said "what do you do?" because surely no one is asking me a due date? I'm huge and uncomfortable and tired, and have a room full of baby stuff, but sometimes I still don't believe I'm pregnant.

We had 2 showers this weekend, and it is unbelievable how generous everyone was. We are truly blessed to have the family, friends and church family that we have. I want to say more about the showers, but they deserve their own posts, so I will wait until I have the pics from Sunday's which my friend Anna had to take since my camera battery went out and post then.

Everything is going well at my monitoring appointments. She's a little bigger than the internet says she should be for the week I'm in. She was in the 44% percentile for weight which I liked. Then she jumped up to 5 lbs 8 oz last week. The Dr says this is only the 75% percentile and he was actually really happy about it. One concern with thrombophylia is that the placenta will not do it's job and the baby won't grow correctly. Apparently my placenta is doing fine. This is great, but I do NOT want a 9lb baby. 7 lbs sounds good to me. I guess this is something we don't really get to decide though, so I'm trying not to worry about it to much.

I’m 34 weeks!!

Baby’s Size: Baby Beavers is the size of a Cantaloupe

Weight Gain/Loss: up 12 lbs.

Maternity Clothes: I broke down and bought a few more maternity things, some tank tops, one shirt and a pair of white pants. I would like to have a few more pairs of these pants, but it seems silly to buy them to wear for 5 weeks. Still mostly maternity jeans and big shirts though.

Symptoms: Stuffy nose, restless legs, very tired, heartburn has kicked in with a vengenance. I can't eat much and certain foods really bother me (citrus, spicy, and rich foods), lots of pressure and false contractions.

Foods I’m Loving: I wouldn’t say I’m loving them, but I can eat rice, biscuits and milk, and plain pasta without having heartburn too bad.

Foods I’m Hating: The last couple of weeks I've been able to cook raw meat, not hating to many things, just not able to eat a lot at once.

Sleep: I'm not sleeping good, there's just no other way to say it. I can't get comfortable at all. No my body pillow doesn't help. Thank goodness this part doesn't last long.

Gender: It’s a GIRL!!!

What I Miss: Sleep, Wine, being comfortable and eating good food!!!

What I’m Looking Forward To: Not being pregnant.

Milestones: We had our maternity pics done and 2 baby showers. There aren't any more big milestones, just getting her here!

Emotions: I feel so overwhelmed by the generosity of our friends and family towards baby Quinn. We have everything we could ever need, plus lots more. I'm getting nervous about the birth itself, worrying about being off the blood thinners so I can have an epidural.

Posted by Hope 3 comments
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Thursday, March 24, 2011

Maternity Pics Sneak Peek

My wonderful photographer already has some pictures up on her blog!!!! You can go here to check them out:

Morgan Trinker Photography


Of course I'm prejudiced, but I think they are AMAZING!!!

Posted by Hope 6 comments
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Wednesday, March 23, 2011

There is a doggy heaven, right?

Today was a very bittersweet day. We had our maternity pictures taken this morning and it turned out so well. We did some outdoor shots then we went to the cutest little ice cream shop that was painted all pink and green and took some really cute shots there. I can't wait to see the pics.

This afternoon though, was so so sad. After 14 years with me, my sweet black lab named Cheyenne had to go to doggy heaven. She's been going downhill for a while. She had some sort of mammary tumor that's huge and she's been struggling with walking for a while. Last week she just got to where she couldn't walk up the deck stairs at all. She wouldn't even try. A few weeks ago she actually feel down the stairs a couple of times and I was worried about her falling and breaking something. Her back right leg started swelling last week and I was afraid it might be broken, but then the left one did the same thing and she could hardly stand. The vet said edema like that means something is really wrong. She just had so many things wrong.

I really struggled with whether to do this or not. Everyone kept saying you'll know when it's time, but I don't buy that because I don't think anytime would have been the right time. It was super suprising at how quick it goes. It took less than 15 seconds from the time he did the injection. And then I balled while I hugged her and totally didn't notice my poor husband who teared up too I was so self involved.


Cheyenne's the black one on the right. She's focused on her ball in this picture. She loved to chase her ball and wouldn't even go get it anymore. She was such a sweet and wonderful dog and I know I'm going to miss her so much. I hope she went to doggy heaven where they have lakes to swim in, balls to fetch and feed all the doggies the ice cream she loved.

Posted by Hope 3 comments
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Sunday, March 13, 2011

32 Weeks

Well, my little belly is no longer little. It has really really popped. I've done very good weight wise, but when Chris took my pic today I was surprised at how big my belly looks. I've also gotten one stretch mark, which I'm greatly upset about. It's small and really low, but I'm worried about the growing I have left to do.

I only have 7 weeks left and while that doesn't seem like that long, it also kinda seems like forever. I'm getting to the anxious, antsy part where I'm just ready for her to be here and for this to be over. Don't get me wrong, I'm still an infertile and so very grateful to actually BE pregnant. But pregnancy is not fun like I thought it would be. I just can't relax and enjoy it, I worry about every little thing.

I've had some contractions, mostly false contractions, but starting this week I'll be monitored twice per week to make sure she looks good, fluid levels are good and if my cervix is changing. I love my Dr. I think this will help me be more calm. I'll be switching from the Lovenox to the Heparin in just a couple of weeks and I'm dreading the twice per day shots. More than that I'm worried that I won't get to have an epidural. I'm just not that in to a drug free birth and I'm getting really nervous about it.

The nursery is almost done and I promise to post pics soon. I ordered a decal for the wall off ETSY and it was a little too small. The artist offered to make it bigger for me so I'm just waiting to get that back from her so I can hang things on the walls and I need my Mom to iron the curtians (yes, I know I could do it, but I want her to do it! ha!) and everything is done in there.

Below is a pic of my ginormous belly!



I’m 32 weeks!!

Baby’s Size: Baby Beavers is the size of a jicama (I saw one of these on Top Chef so I went and tried one, yummy!)

Weight Gain/Loss: up 12 lbs. My goal is 15 total so if I can really manage to only gain 1/2 lb per week for the next 7 weeks I'll be right at my goal.

Maternity Clothes: Maternity jeans and a few tops. Still wearing several regular shirts, but big ones and wraps with tank tops.

Symptoms: Stuffy nose, Restless Legs, Uncomfortable, Lots of pressure

Foods I’m Loving: Peanut Butter, milk, Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs, Sonic Blasts (with Reese's)... See where the weight is coming from.

Foods I’m Hating: Meat if I have to see it raw or cook it, Eggs are not appealing to me these days

Sleep: The last few weeks it's been hard to sleep, restless legs keep me from falling asleep, I can't get comfortable and I have to get up a couple of times a night.

Gender: It’s a GIRL!!!

What I Miss: I'm really craving a cheese plate and some wine. It seems weird to miss that the most. Also, sleeping on my stomach.

What I’m Looking Forward To: Showers 2 weeks from now

Milestones: Nothing super big this week.

Emotions: I feel kind of irritable, but trying not to take it out on anyone and I cry pretty often.

Posted by Hope 7 comments
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Baby Names - BabyNamey.com Name Badge Ticker
Lilypie First Birthday tickers

TTC #2

April 2012 - Back to RE, Bloodwork is good, order drugs from overseas

May 2012 - Uncle Robert dies, have to be in Memphis when cycle starts, postponed until next month

June 2012 - Cycle day one - wrong - cyst on right ovary, put on BC to calm ovaries

July 2012 - Ovulated through the birth control, tyring old fashion way, did PIO and heparin shots, BFN

August 2012 - 150 U.I. Follistim 1x/day, only 1 egg, cancel Ganirelix, go ahead with IUI #1, 22 million sperm post wash, heparin & PIO injections - BFN

September 2012 - Skipping a month, couldn't get the drugs in time for the start of my cycle

October 2012 - 225 U.I. Follisitm 2x/day, Ganirelix, 3 mature follicles, IUI #2, 22 million sperm post wash, PIO and heparin injections - BFP

November 2nd - 1st beta, not good - 9

November 5th - 2nd beta - 3, chemical pregnancy

November 2012 - 2 weeks BC

December 2012 - 225 UI Follistim 2x/day, Ganirelix, 3 mature follicles, IUI #3, 18 million sperm post wash, doxycycline, PIO and heparin injections,

December 19th - BFN

January 2013- 2 weeks BC, 150 IU Bravelle 2x/day, Ganirelix, 2 mature follicles, IUI #4, 20 million sperm post wash, doxycycline, PIO and heparin injections - BFP!

January 29th - 1st beta - 42

January 31st - 2nd beta - 43, not good

February 4th - 3rd beta - 320! What? Maybe this is going to happen after all!

February 7th - 4th beta - 1196, RE says I have graduated to OB!

February 13th - 1 beautiful baby, saw the heartbeat, too early to hear it, measuring exactly 6 weeks

February 22nd - Heard heartbeat!!! Measuring perfectly at 7 weeks 3 days, Due date - 10/8/13

April 25th - It's another girl!!!!!

TTC Journey to #1

October 2008 - Married, never started BC

December 18, 2008 - BFP, second month trying!!

January 2009 - Miscarriage 7w2d

February - April 2009 - trying old fashioned method, no luck

April 2009 - First RE appt. SA:163 million, excellent motility & morphology

May 2009 - HSG all clear, IUI #1 - BFN

June 2009 - 50 mg clomid, IUI #2 - BFN

July 2009 - 50 mg clomid, IUI #3 - BFN

August 2009 - Follow up with RE, says 1% chance of getting pregnant, recommends IVF

September 2009 - I don't believe Dr, decide to go to Chinese Medicine Dr & Acupuncturist

October 2009 - Appointment with CM Dr, orders an expensive, out of pocket hormone test. I go to get records from RE, surely he tested hormones, right? WRONG, never did any basic hormone tests

November 2009 - Appointment with new RE, testosterone level elevated, diagnosed PCOS, 1500 mg Metformin, Birth Control for 1 month

December 2009 - Femara & HCG trigger shot- BFN

January 2010- Femara, HCG trigger shot, scheduled IUI, think I'm ovulating before giving trigger shot, go for Progesterone test, already ovulating, IUI canceled

February 2010 - Femara, Injectibles, trigger, IUI #4 - BFP

March 5th, 2010 - 1st beta - 79

March 8th, 2010 - 2nd beta - 96

March 10th, 2010 - 3rd beta - 99, Diagnosed as chemical pregnancy, never start on my own

March 17th, 2010 - 4th beta - 113, U/S, nothing in uterus, Ectopic, Methotrexate Shot

April 2010 - Tested positive for heterozygous G20210A & MTHFR gene mutations, started baby aspirin and Folgard.

May 2010 - Laparoscopy - tiny bit of stage 1 endo removed from left ovary, drilled right ovary, no blockage found in tubes.

June 2010 - Mixed Cycle - Femara and Bravelle injectibles, trigger shot, 3 good follies, 46 million sperm post wash, IUI #5, Heparin injections - BFN

July 2010 - Femara + Bravell, trigger, 2 follies, 29 million sperm post wash, heparin injections, IUI #6 - BFP

July 27, 2010 - 1st Beta- 29

July 29, 2010 - 2nd Beta - 22 - Chemical Pregnancy

August 2010 - Bravelle, Ganirelix, Trigger, 29 millions sperm post wash, heparin & PIO injections, IUI #7 - BFP

August 30th- 1st Beta - 90

September 1st - 2nd Beta - 209

September 8th - 3rd beta- 4150

September 15th - 4th beta - 29,481

September 20th - 1st Ultrasound - 1 beautiful baby, measuring 6wks6days, heart beating away

November 23rd - It's a GIRL!!!

May 2, 2011 - Quinn Caroline born at 8:25 PM, 7 lbs 14 oz, 20.5 inches

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